Envious chefs from other cities have been known to dismiss San Francisco's restaurant scene as just a bunch of cooks who know how to shop well. While San Francisco chefs do enjoy premium, year-round produce and fresh seafood, the caliber of culinary talent in San Francisco has made it one of the world's premier food cities. The city is best known for its farm-fresh, ingredient-driven food showcased at restaurants like Bereta and Boulevard. Trendy neighborhoods like the Mission District, Potrero Hill and Noe Valley have come on strong with inventive but down-to-earth restaurants such as Range, Incanto and Delfina, while top-of-the-line newcomers Benu and Prospect wow locals and visitors alike with their eclectic, technically precise cuisine rooted in western and Asian traditions. While visiting Fisherman's Wharf, restaurants such as Franciscan Crab and Alioto's offer classic seafood dishes. Or if you are shopping at Union Square, the historic John's Grill or E&O Trading are local favorites. With so many choices, the only downside in this city of plenty is deciding where to eat. SanFrancisco.com can help.

Neighborhood by neighborhood, there are plenty of things to do in San Francisco when the sun goes down. Along Valencia Street in the Mission District are tiny but tony bars, while Mission Street has night spots and dance clubs for all tastes. Jazz can be found closer to Union Square. On Van Ness Boulevard, adjacent to the splendid San Francisco City Hall, are Davies Hall and the Marine Memorial Auditorium. A few hundred feet away in Hayes Valley are more bistros and restaurants, and a cabaret or two. North Beach isn’t the club Mecca it once was, but the neon lights are still on. For the young and beautiful both the Fillmore strip in Pacific Heights and Chestnut Street in the Marina might as well be open-air pubs, while Castro Street’s world-famous as a gay-friendly neighborhood. Bars open, close and are relaunched, but the city’s taste for revelry never changes. And our San Francisco nightlife calendar has up-to-the-minute information about all of it.

As one of the worlds most attractive and exciting cities, San Francisco real estate has always been precious and highly sought-after. And while the market has recovered somewhat following the recent unpleasantness, this is still a good opportunity to get into the San Francisco housing market. SanFrancisco.com's real estate allows homebuyers to search MLS listings, has resources to help with moving, and offers a directory of real estate agents. Our real estate guide makes it easy to find San Francisco homes for sale, find a foreclosure, search for an apartment in San Francisco or even find a roommate. Also, search for homes in desirable San Francisco neighborhoods including Pacific Heights, Glen Park, the Marina and Russian Hill.

The job market may seem tough to navigate these days, but employment and career opportunities can be found from San Francisco's Financial District and Silicon Valley's technology center to the still-thriving creative services sector. Post your resume, search jobs, and find a Bay Area employer today.

San Francisco Arts & Entertainment

Downtown San Francisco is practically a village of museums. The ever expanding, four-story SF MOMA, founded in 1935, overlooks the garden-like Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, where smaller performance spaces as well as cinema and gallery spaces exhibit contemporary works. Just west of Union Square is the small but impressive theater district (half-off day of performance tickets can be purchased at a kiosk in the Square). Across town, in windswept Golden Gate Park, is the newly re-furbished De Young Museum, a temple to the arts. On a bluff in Lincoln Park, perched over only the most flabbergasting view of the Golden Gate: the Legion of Honor, built in 1924 as a World War One memorial, this is where most of the city’s old masters and ancient art is kept. The city loves to celebrate: there’s the notorious cross-town run Bay to Breakers in May, the celebrated Pride Parade in June, the Latin American Carnival in the Mission, St. Patrick’s Day and Cinco De Mayo are practically regional holidays and there’s a street fair or festival somewhere almost every week.

What to do in San Francisco

Visiting San Francisco? Spend the day visiting historical landmarks like the world famous Fisherman's Wharf, Alcatraz Island and Golden Gate Bridge; eating at beautiful restaurants like The Cliff House and Alioto's; shopping at world-famous and boutique stores or possibly taking in a San Francisco Giants or 49ers game.

The San Francisco area is brimming with action for sports fans, and this guide breaks down the hottest teams—San Francisco Giants & Forty-Niners, Oakland Athletics, Oakland Raiders and Golden State Warriors—and makes it easy to buy tickets online.

San Francisco City Guide

With its rich culture and fabled nightlife, it’s no wonder so many visitors have left their hearts in San Francisco. They’ve left their mark here too, so that while it may not be the nation’s biggest city, it’s certainly one of its most cosmopolitan. On top of that, the City by the Bay is the Golden Gate to one of the most exciting, diverse and innovative regions anywhere.

When Sir Francis Drake sailed by San Francisco in 1579, he dubbed it Nova Albion and moved on. He could not have imagined that the 3,000-year-old Ohlone settlement would soon emerge as a Spanish mission, the hub of the Gold Rush, or the center of the Sixties’ counterculture movement. Today, the new gold is digital, but generations of iconic settlers have left their imprint on the city’s many hills.

Though it covers less that 47 square miles, San Francisco’s also the nation’s second most densely populated city, with dozens of world-famous neighborhoods and more than 200 parks and beaches. Visitors soon find that there’s more to the city than Fisherman’s Wharf and Chinatown, Haight-Ashbury and the Mission District, Pacific Heights and the Marina. In fact, there’s a neighborhood here for every taste.

With stunning scenery and outstanding services, no wonder so many people of all types decide to tie the knot in San Francisco—one of the most romantic places on earth. This guide can make the buildup to the big event easier.

For years San Francisco has been a haven for GLBT men and women looking for a place to feel accepted and participate in one of the most exciting cities in the world. There are still plenty of gay-friendly hotels, restaurants, attractions and clubs in the city where being out is in.

As one of country’s most progressive cities in the world, San Francisco is also one of the greenest. This means it's easy to find environmentally conscious restaurants and businesses that are taking a stand for the city and the planet.

San Francisco is famous for its fog, but the sun shines here too. Here’s a guide to San Francisco’s weather, which can be as offbeat as its people. There are forecasts, packing lists and suggestions for ways to make the most of the city's classic Mediterranean climate.

With so many attractions and world class facilities, and proximity to the headquarters of some of the biggest companies in the world, San Francisco is a convention capital—and a greenhouse for new business ideas. Planning an event here? Take advantage of our free meeting planning service.

San Francisco Transportation Guide

Getting around San Francisco is easy, whether travelers choose the city’s historic cable cars, its ferry system linking it to the rest of the Bay Area, or its modern and convenient Muni and BART bus and train systems.

Many visitors decide to rent a car to get around San Francisco. They’ll find great rates and special deals from Avis, Budget and Hertz here. Business travelers can find luxury car rentals or even rentals specializing in electric vehicles.

Getting to and from San Francisco is easy, especially now that San Francisco International Airport has upgraded its new international terminal, making it North America's largest. Here’s a complete guide to SFO, including AirTrain, domestic and international terminals, airlines, and all the shops and restaurants. There’s also information on ground transportation and places to hook up to Wi-Fi while waiting for a flight.